Thoughts on my plan for the Pacific Northwest

[BigCurly]

Hi Folks,

I am new to this, but really excited to start some touring.

This is my first trip beyond an overnighter last summer, so if you have any advice on the route I would really appreciate it. Here is what I have planned...

Day 1 - Aug 1, My Home (Vancouver BC, Canada) to Salt Creek Campsite Washington - approx. 60km
Day 2 - Aug 2, Salt Creek to Neah Bay (Hobuck Beach Resort Camping)  - 102km
Day 3 - Aug 3, Neah Bay to Bogachiel State Park - 82km
Day 4 - Aug 4, Bogachiel State Park to Lake Quinnault (one of three camp grounds) - 100km
Day 5 - Aug 5, Lake Quinnault to Grayland Beach State Park - 119km
Day 6 - Aug 6, Grayland Beach State Park to Cape Disappointment Park - 119km
Day 7 - Aug 7, Cape Disappointment to Nahalem Bay State Park - 102km
Day 8 - Aug 8, Nahalem Bay to Portland (Sister-in-law's house) 153km

Meet my wife in Portland and spend some time with Family before hopping on the train back to Vancouver.

Thanks!

[johnsondasw]

This is a great route and a lot of fun to ride.  I have ridden almost all  of it.  The drivers were considerate and you ride through a lot of spectacular country on the west coast of WA.  You will get hills, sometimes for several miles, every time you cross a major river draining the west side of the Olympic Mtns on the WA coast.  Bring rain gear and use a mirror.   

[adventurepdx]

Sounds like a good trip you got planned there! I agree with johnsondasw that there is abundant scenery on this ride.

Day 1 - Aug 1, My Home (Vancouver BC, Canada) to Salt Creek Campsite Washington - approx. 60km

You're talking about Salt Creek west of Port Angeles, right? I'm a bit confused by your start point, though. Do you mean Vancouver Island or the City of Vancouver? If it's the former, I can see it as a reasonable first day assuming you're taking the ferry from Victoria. If it's the latter, I don't know of any route between Salt Creek and the Terminal City that's going to be 60km. You'd have to break it into a few more days.

Day 3 - Aug 3, Neah Bay to Bogachiel State Park - 82km
Day 4 - Aug 4, Bogachiel State Park to Lake Quinnault (one of three camp grounds) - 100km

I would say if you had the time, break this section down a little bit. A lot of the cool stuff, stuff worth seeing on this section of the Olympic Peninsula, requires side trips from US 101, the main road. And you don't see the actual coast except for an approximately 15 km section between Ruby Beach and South Beach (between Bogachiel and Quinault.) If you had an extra day or two here to play with, you could take a side trip to Rialto Beach, which is a 30 km round-trip, or the Hoh Rainforest (70 km round-trip.) And when we rode through the area in 2010, the National Park campground on the north side of Quinault was closed, but the two U.S.F.S. campgrounds on the south side were open.

Day 8 - Aug 8, Nahalem Bay to Portland (Sister-in-law's house) 153km

Have you figured out which route you'd take inland from Nehalem Bay to Portland? There's a few options, but I would avoid US 26 if possible. While it's the most direct option, it's also the busiest, with narrow shoulders and three good climbs. The other routes will take more time, though.

[BigCurly]

Thanks for the feedback. Im really excited to go.

As far as the first day goes, I basically live at the ferry terminal on the mainland, so Vancouver was a bit misleading.

Thanks!

[adventurepdx]

As far as the first day goes, I basically live at the ferry terminal on the mainland, so Vancouver was a bit misleading.

Tsawassen, you mean? Does this mean you'll use the BC Ferry to Swartz Bay, then bike the 30km along the Lochside Trail into Victoria, then take the Coho ferry to Port Angeles? That's totally doable, so long as you're cognisant of ferry schedules, esp. with the Coho. Looks like the last ferry you'd want to catch out of Victoria would be 3pm. The last ferry of the day is at 7:30 which would be tight for getting to Salt Creek unless you wanted to ride in the dark. Of course you could stay in Port Angeles if that scenario happens. (This is assuming you'll be riding during the summer.)

[adventurepdx]

Hey BigCurly, how did your tour go? Did you do the ride?